Beatty, a 2009 second-round pick by the Giants, is taking over for incumbent David Diehl, who will line up next to Beatty now as the starting left guard. Beatty had entered training camp last year hoping to unseat Diehl as the Giants’ starting left tackle, before a broken bone in his right foot forced him to miss most of the season.

Diehl will be replacing Rich Seubert, who was cut by the Giants earlier this week.

“David wished me good luck,” Beatty said. “In walkthroughs [yesterday] we were still talking, and there still has to be tackle-guard communication, because if you’re out there by yourself you won’t get anything done.

“Me and David have been working out during the offseason together, just building our friendship and making sure we don’t miss a thing.”

The departure of Seubert, along with center Shaun O’Hara, marks the first changes in the offensive line since Big Blue won Super Bowl XLII. It also means that Eli Manning will have a new protector of his blind side.

“He’s played some, he’s been around this group,” Manning said. “He knows how to work, how to prepare for each practice.”

“Eli trusts me,” Beatty said. “I’ve protected for him, so it’s not like this is my first start and I haven’t been there before. I’ve had some starts at left tackle, right tackle, so I know what they expect from me.

“All the great things you can do, keep doing that, all the things you messed up, get rid of it.”